Dip-sampler for use in steel-making vessel



March 24, 1970 E. v. ABAROTIN ET AL 3,501,962

DIP-SAMPLER FOR USE IN STEEL-MAKING VESSEL Filed April 29, 1968 &

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INVENTORS EUGENE M ABARO T/N AND 7/ CHUNG CHANG United States Patent3,501,962 DIP-SAMPLER FOR USE IN STEEL- MAKING VESSEL Eugene V. Abarotinand Yi-Chung Chang, Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, Pa.,assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of DelawareFiled Apr. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 724,921 Int. Cl. G01n 1/10 US. Cl. 73-42542 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cage composed of a yoke and basketis rigidly and coaxially carried on the lower end of a reach rod mountedto be lowered into a tiltable steel-making vessel. A crucible isremovably positioned in the basket and, when the latter is immersed inthe vessel contents, collects a sample therefrom. Cooperating means onthe yoke and crucible limit flotation uplift of the latter in theformer. On partial rotation of the crucible in the basket, disengagementof such means permits removal and replacement of the crucible. The reachrod is suspended from a jab crane for convenient manipulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus fortaking samples from a tiltable steel-making vessel. More particularly,it concerns a sampling cup or crucible removably carried in a cage fixedto a reach rod for lowering into the vessel.

The most pertinent prior art known to us is the Long et al. Patent No.2,598,183.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment, we attach a cage tothe lower end of a reach rod arranged to be lowered into the top of asteel-making vessel, and provide a crucible removably disposed in thecage for holding a sample. The rod is guided by a sleeve on a jib cranewhich suspends the rod. The cage is adapted to enter a port in theinclined fume-exhaust duct extending upwardly from the vessel, before itenters the latter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the present,to FIGURE I particularly, a conventional steelmaking vessel is tiltablymounted in suitable supports (not shown) and has an open top. Aninclined fumeexhaust duct 11 is positioned to register with the top ofthe vessel when it is erect. A port 12 is formed in the duct.

On a floor or deck 13 above vessel 10, a jib crane 14 is mounted forangular movement from a position over duct 11 to a position laterallythereof. Crane 14 has a guide sleeve 15 fixed thereto through which areach rod 16 reciprocates, as controlled by the hoist rope of the crane.Sample collecting means 17 is mounted on the lower end of rod 16.

Turning now to FIGURES 2-4, sampling means 17 includes an elongated cage18 and a cup or crucible 19 removably positioned therein. Cage 18 is ofheavy heatresistant metal construction, either cast or fabricated, andhas a lower basket portion 20 from which a yoke 21 extends upwardly. Theyoke is welded or otherwise secured to rod 16. Basket portion 20preferably comprises a ring 22 and four circumferentially spaced arms 23which extend downwardly and inwardly therefrom, uniting at a centralpoint. Crucible 19 of suitable refractory material is received andloosely confined in basket portion 20.

Yoke 21 extends upwardly from ring 22 a distance sufficient toaccommodate the height of crucible 19 when the latter is moved from alateral position into axial alinement with cage 18. Each limb of yoke 21has an inwardly extending abutment 24. Crucible 19 has diametricallyopposed laterally projecting cars 25. When the crucible is positioned sothat a line through the ears is normal to the plane of yoke 21, thecrucible may be lowered to rest in basket 20, the ears passing betweenthe abutments. If the crucible be then rotated one quarter of a turn,ears 25 will engage abutments 24 when uplifted by flotation, onimmersion of the cage in the contents of vessel 10. Reversing thisprocedure on lifting the cage from the vessel permits easy removal ofthe crucible and sample.

The several advantages of my invention should be readily apparent. Thestructure is simple yet sturdy and well adapted to the extreme serviceconditions for which it is intended and its operation requires no skillnor does it necessitate stopping the steel-making process. It is rapidin operation, furthermore, which is very important in making steel bymodern methods, such as oxygen blowing, where the composition of theheat varies at a high rate, particularly toward the end of the blow.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for sampling molten metal comprising a reach rod, anelongated cage rigidly mounted on the end of said rod coaxiallytherewith, a crucible removably dispososed in said cage, laterallyextending ears on said crucible, and spaced abutments on said cageengageable by said ears to limit flotation uplift of the crucible onimmersion of the basket.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by said ears andabutments being spaced about the common axis of said crucible and cage,respectively, so that in one position of the crucible in the cage, saidears clear said abutments, on relative axial movement of the cage andcrucible for insertion and removal of the latter into and from theformer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,327,531 6/1967 Fradeneck136-234 3,367,189 2/1968 Curry 73-425.4

FOREIGN PATENTS 596,600 1/ 1948 Great Britain.

S. CLEMENT SWISHER, Primary Examiner

